France is arming itself and intends to increase the number of missiles and drones by 400%.

France is arming itself and plans to increase its resources of missiles and drones by up to 400%. by 2030 – the Politico website reported on Friday, describing the draft amendment to the Military Planning Act. The four-fold increase reflects a change in the prioritization of the French defense budget.

On April 8, the French government will present an amendment to the Military Planning Act, under which a total of over EUR 280 billion will be allocated to defense in the years 2027-2030, which includes, among others, increasing spending on the purchase of drones and missiles to PLN 24.5 billion. The act aims to prepare the state for a “war economy”.

The project provides for the allocation of EUR 63.3 billion to defense in 2027, EUR 68.3 billion in 2028, EUR 72.8 billion in 2029 and EUR 76.3 billion in 2030. After its adoption by the Parliament, these amounts will be approved annually in the Budget Act.

– The most urgent issue is, of course, ammunition. We plan to invest an additional EUR 8.5 billion in procurement between 2026 and 2030, in addition to the EUR 16 billion allocated under the 2023 law, said Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

The French authorities want to increase it by 400%. stocks of loitering munitions, such as kamikaze drones, AASM Hammer guided bombs by 240%. and Aster and Mica missiles by 30%.

As Politico noted, France does not intend to expand its armed forces. Despite previous promises by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Lecorn, Paris does not plan to purchase additional Rafale fighters or frigates.

However, the development of a new main battle tank model is being considered. The project calls for France to launch research to assess what could replace the Leclerc tanks, which authorities plan to phase out by 2037.

France is currently working with Germany on a new generation Main Ground Combat System tank, but its entry into service is delayed – it was originally planned for 2035, and currently the French Ministry of Defense says 2045.

As Politico writes, There is a widespread belief in France that there is a need to increase defense spending. Although the presented project covers the period until 2030, it is expected that Macron's successor will present another proposal in 2027.

The portal reminds that after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most European countries began to modernize and expand their defense capabilities, spending billions of euros on armaments. This trend intensified after Donald Trump was re-elected as US president, out of fear that Washington would withdraw from NATO and cease to be the guarantor of security in Europe. (PAP)

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